Scottish folk farewell to a mercurial spirit
By JIM GILCHRIST

Scotsman, UK
Mon 4 Apr 2005

Martyn Bennett coupled piping and fiddling with electronic beats.
Picture: Donald Macleod

HOW DO you capture the mercurial spirit of someone like Martyn Bennett,
the formidably musical piper, fiddler, composer and mixing magician,
who died of cancer at a tragically early age at the beginning of
the year?

Next week’s memorial concert in the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, will
have a fair crack at meeting the challenge, with a suitably eclectic
programme encompassing traditional singing and electronica, jazz and
ceilidh music, Highland piping and a large-scale orchestral work.

It will be a celebration of the man rather than a memorial, insists
Bennett’s wife and fellow musician, Kirsten. She is currently in
the throes of organising the event, which will feature performers
who influenced or were influenced by Bennett. There are no shortage
of these – Bennett’s extrovert marriage of fiery piping and fiddling
with the electronic beats and samples of clubland was widely hailed as
the first truly Scottish hardcore dance music. He also created lush
soundscapes for the spoken word, as well some characterful works for
orchestral forces.

Bennett died at the end of January, less than three weeks before his
34th birthday, following a long battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The
loss was widely felt throughout the Scottish music community. Next
Friday, a spectacularly wide-ranging programme will reflect the musical
adventurousness and sheer zest of the man, with proceeds going to the
Marie Curie Hospice in Edinburgh, the Bethesda Hospice on the Isle of
Lewis and the Martyn Bennett Trust, a new commemorative fund aimed
at helping young musicians who share Bennett’s vision of music as a
vital cross-cultural medium.

Guests will include Fred Morrison, an extrovert performer who was one
of Bennett’s favourite pipers, singer Karen Matheson and Donald Shaw
of Capercaillie, the energetic folk-fusion outfit Croft No 5 and the
powerfully voiced traditional singer Sheila Stewart, who featured
on Bennett’s last album, Grit. Also singing will be his mother,
folklorist and Gaelic singer Margaret Bennett, with whom he made the
album Glen Lyon.

Kirsten Bennett herself, who was a member of her husband’s Cuillin
touring project, will be playing alongside Martin Swan and Michaela
Rowan of Mouth Music, while from the vibrant Edinburgh jazz scene
come Trio AAB, joined by singer Gina Rae and flautist Brian Finnegan
for Tom Bancroft’s Multistorey Karma Park (Bennett guested in its
premiere in 1997).

The concert will open in grand style as young musicians of Bennett’s
alma mater, the City of Edinburgh Music School at Broughton High,
perform Mackay’s Memoirs, a spectacular work for strings, clarsach,
pipes and percussion which Bennett composed for Broughton’s centenary
and which also helped fuel 1999’s celebrations for the opening of the
Scottish Parliament (a newly recorded CD of it should be available
on the night, including an additional re-mix by DJ Dolphin Boy).

Jillian Thomson of Dance Base will perform her interpretation of Nae
Regrets, from Grit, which featured in last year’s acclaimed ballet,
Off Kilter, while, in a Bennett-ish collision of styles and cultures,
Greg Lawson, violinist with McFall’s Chamber, and piper Rory Campbell,
accompanied by sundry percussionists and electronic samples, will
perform Karabakh, a piece which Bennett wove around a recording
of a young girl from the beleaguered Armenian enclave of Karabakh
in Azerbaijan.

“That piece says so much about what Martyn was all about,” says
Kirsten. “We wanted to have as much of his own music as possible, so
we’re delighted to have Mackay’s Memoirs and Karabakh. Unfortunately
Su-a Lee [cellist with McFall’s Chamber] can’t be there, so we can’t
do the string quartet with small pipes and percussion, although it
will be on a later recording.”

The musician’s untimely death left surprisingly little unfinished
musical business, given his creative output, although, says Kirsten,
there were certain things he entrusted Martin Swan, with whom he
had worked in the past, to finish for him, such as the recording of
Mackay’s Memoirs to which Swan has indeed been giving the final re-mix,
and the quartet.

There are a few other things pending, she adds: Bennett was thinking
about a new album, setting old recordings of traditional music to DJ
dance beats, and she is currently sifting through all that. There
remain a few other unrecorded items, and she is hoping that Peter
Gabriel’s RealWorld label, which released Grit, might include them
in a possible anthology.

In the meantime, her first preoccupation is next Friday’s concert,
which will be MC’d by the Gaelic singer and BBC broadcaster Mary Ann
Kennedy – on whose Celtic Connections programme Bennett was much in
demand – and Annie Reed from RealWorld.

“I just wanted to get the spirit of Martin across,” continues
Kirsten. “We didn’t want it just to be a night of famous people, but
musicians who were connected with Martyn and understood what he was
about. He was so ill, and there were so few people in contact with him
for the last year or two of his life… I wanted them to be involved.”

Further guests are bound to swell the list, and Kirsten’s only
regret is that she’s been unable to enlist anyone to play the ney –
the Middle-Eastern flute which, as played by Omar Faruk, was a big
influence on Bennet’s music. However, the evening’s musical horizons
seem mind-bogglingly, if appropriately, broad as it is.

The memorial concert is on 15 April at the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh,
tel: 0131-668 2019). Donations to the Martyn Bennett Trust can be
sent to: c/o Active Events, 60 Love Street, Paisley, PA3 2EQ.

PRESS RELEASE

Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317

Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

POPE JOHN PAUL II: OUTSTANDING FIGURE IN MODERN CHRISTENDOM, ONE OF
THE MOST COURAGEOUS SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF OUR TIME

His Holiness Aram I made the following statement expressing his
profound sadness following the announcement by the Holy See of the
death of His Holiness Pope John Paul II:

“His Holiness Pope John Paul II will remain an outstanding figure
in the modern history of world Christendom. In fact, his relentless
effort to make the Gospel of Christ a living reality in the life of
people, his unyielding prophetic witness to make the moral values
the guiding principles of human societies, his firm commitment to the
cause of Christian unity, his openness to other religions with a clear
vision of living together as a reconciled community in the midst of
diversities, and his continuous advocacy for justice, human rights
and freedom made him an exceptional figure of great achievements. As
moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee and as
the Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia, I had the privilege to meet His
Holiness on different occasions and witnessed the strength of his
faith, the depth of his wisdom and the clarity of his vision.”

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about
the history and the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may
refer to the web page of the Catholicosate,
The Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church
is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KFSN, CA
last updated: 4/2/2005

March For Humanity Begins in Fresno

April 2, 2005 – A group of young people are marching to the state capitol
with the goal of raising awareness about the Armenian genocide.

They began their 19-day journey in Fresno on Saturday.

Along the way, they’ll distribute fliers about the deaths of 1.5 million
Armenians, who died at the hands of the Turkish government.

They’ll wrap up the march with a rally at the state capitol, to thank
California lawmakers for officially recognizing the genocide.

The Turkish government still denies it ever happened.

GIBRAHAYER
e-magazine
[email protected]
http:// gibrahayer.cyprusnewsletter.com

The largest circulation Armenian
online e-magazine on the WWW

PASTOR SHOCKS TURKISH TV VIEWERS BY BOLD REMARKS ON GENOCIDE

By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier

Even though the Turks are supposed to be on their best behavior in
order to convince the Europeans that they are civilized enough to join
the
European Union, they are still extremely intolerant of anyone who dares
to
bring up the taboo subject of the Armenian Genocide.
Last month, when Orhan Pamuk, an internationally-known Turkish
novelist, boldly told a foreign reporter that one million Armenians were
killed around 1915, just about all Turkish commentators, historians
(government-paid propagandists) and politicians severely condemned the
writer for making such a statement. A radical Turkish group even called
for
the murder of this `traitor.’ Furthermore, a Turkish publisher is being
prosecuted by the government for releasing the Turkish translation of an
English language book that urges the acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide. Around six months ago, in the midst of trying to qualify for
the
start of membership talks to join the EU, the Turkish Parliament adopted
a
new law that makes it a crime for anyone to acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide. If this is how the Turkish government is acting, while trying
to
impress the Europeans, imagine what it would do if its actions were not
under scrutiny!
Given all the controversy this issue has generated within Turkey,
the
Turkish `Flash TV’ decided to air earlier this month a five-hour live
talk
show on the Armenian Genocide. The host of the program requested that
the
Armenian Patriarchate send a represen tative to take part in this show.
However, the Patriarchate refused to participate by saying that it did
not
have an expert on the subject to be discussed. The host then invited
Rev.
Krikor Aghabaloghlu, the outspoken and courageous pastor of a local
Armenian
evangelical church, to present `the Armenian point of view.’ Rev.
Aghabaloghlu is a well-known activist who has already been jailed once
for
challenging the confiscation of his church’s property by the Turkish
government.
While there have been many talk shows on the Armenian issue, no one
has
ever dared to go on Turkish TV and repeatedly assert in a bold and
brazen
manner, as Rev. Aghabaloghlu did, that there is no doubt a genocide was
committed against the Armenians. Both Hulki Jevizoglu, the host of the
show,
and his main guest, historian Mehmet Saray were dumb-founded and
tongue-tied
by the Armenian clergyman’s unexpectedly outspoken remarks. In a very
calm
and congenial manner, and with always a smile on his face, Pastor
Aghabaloghlu said on national Turkish TV that all Turks in Anatolia know
the
truth about the Armenian Genocide. He said that no one dared to talk
about
this subject and that anyone who had the courage to speak about it, is
called a traitor, condemned by the media, taken to court, and sent to
jail.
Despite all attempts to shut him up during the show, Rev.
Aghabaloghlu
kept on insisting that as a clergyman he has the obligation to tell the
truth. When asked to back up his comments, he said that he knew the
facts
first-hand from the experiences of his own family. Besides, he added,
there
is plenty of evidence for the Genocide in thousands of books and that
everyone knew that the Armenians in Anatolia were the victims of
Genocide.
Otherwise, he said, what did happen to the Armenians inhabiting
that
region? Did they evaporate? Did they decide to migrate en masse? Are
there
any Armenians left in Anatolia?
Making the Turks even angrier, Rev. Aghabaloghlu said that since
Armenians are mistreated in Turkey today, one can only imagine how much
worse their treatment must have been back then under the Ottoman Empire?
Mehmet Saray, the Turkish historian, was so enraged by the Armenian
clergyman’s assertions that he kept asking the host of the show, `where
did
you find this man?’ Saray said he would have refused to appear on the
show
if he had known that he would take part in such a `low quality’
discussion
and that his years of research and his books on this issue would be
ignored.
When a viewer from Erzeroum called to say that mass graves of Turks
were recently uncovered, Rev. Aghabaloghlu immediately retorted: `How do
you
know that these bones did not belong to Armenians?’
This astounding conversation, broadcast live to millions of Turkish
viewers, went on until the wee hours of the morning.
Rev. Aghabaloghlu is the courageous shepherd not only of his own
flock,
but that of all Armenians in Turkey who dare not to speak out fearing
for
their lives! The good pastor risked his life by making such bold remarks
on
a taboo subject in Turkey. European Union officials should warn the
Turkish
government that Turkey’s EU membership prospects would be seriously
jeopardized should anything happen to this brave Armenian servant of God
who, as he says, has an obligation to tell the truth!

HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISER TO THE PM OF TURKEY RESIGNS
By Jonny Dymond 25 March 05 – BBC News, Istanbul – The chairman of the
Turkish prime minister’s human rights advisory board has confirmed to
the
BBC that he will resign from his post. Yavuz Onen, who is leaving with
five
others, has bitterly criticised the attitude of the Turkish government
towards human rights.
His departure is an embarrassment for the government.
It has worked hard over the last three years to persuade the world
its
attitude to human rights has changed.
The advisory board and the government had clashed before, following
a
report from the board which criticised the country’s attitude towards
its
minorities and questioned some of the fundamentals of Turkey’s
constitution.
The government effec tively ignored it; at one point, locking it
out of
its own offices.
Mr Onen complained that he and 30 other members of the board had
tried
to get to see the foreign minister, but with no success.

No consultation
He condemned what he called the government’s insincere attitude towards
human rights and its lack of consultation with the board.
The resignation of Mr Onen and five other members of the board
comes at
a time when Turkey’s human rights record is once again under the
spotlight.
The EU, which has given Turkey a date for membership negotiations
to
start, has made it clear that those negotiations are contingent upon
continuing human rights improvements.
Many were deeply shocked by pictures of women demonstrators being
assaulted by the police earlier this month in Istanbul.
And human rights groups in the sout h-east of the country have told
the
BBC that the situation there has got worse in the last few months.

TWELVE TRIBAL LEADERS OF SYRIA ARRIVE IN YEREVAN
28.03.2005 YEREVAN (YERKIR) – A delegation comprised of the leaders of
12
Arab tribes inhabiting in northeastern Syria, accompanied by
representatives
of the Armenian Church’s Beria Prelacy, arrived in Yerevan on Monday,
Dashnaktsoutiun press service reported.
Armenian National Assembly’s Dashnaktsoutiun faction secretary
Hrair
Karapetian and Bureau’s Hay Tad and Political Affairs Office director
Giro
Manoyan met the honorable guests at Yerevan’s Zvartnotz airport.
The influential tribal leaders, some of whom reside in Saudi
Arabia,
Jordan, Iraq and Qatar, are in Armenia to take part in the events
commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, pay tribute
to
the Genocide victims and once again remind the world of the vicious
crime,
the perpetrators of which are still tryi ng to deny it.
Their hospitable ancestors gave refuge to the fragments of the
Armenians who had miraculously survived in the Genocide; today, many of
those Armenians and their heirs still live side-to-side with the
friendly
Arab people and enjoy equal rights.

VAHAN BEDELIAN
In Artsagang’s March 2005 issue, Asdghig Tavitian reviews the newly
published biography of Music Master Vahan Bedelian, who taught the likes
of
internationally acclaimed violinists, Manouk Parikian (soloist with the
Liverpool Philharmonic), Haroutune Bedelian (B.B.C Prize Winner) and
Levon
Chilingirian (of the Chilingirian Quartet).
Bedelian also taught at the Melkonian for 35 years,
Melikian-Ouzounian
elementary school for 50 years, the English School for 15, the Turkish
Lycee
for ten and the Cyprus National Conservatory for 50.
In every school he taught Bedelian formed orchestras, bands and
choirs.
He was a lso the Choir Master of the Sourp Asdvadzadzin Choir for more
than
six decades. He started serving the Armenian Church at the age of six in
his
home town of Adana – Cilicia.
He was a composer of several songs and hymns.
He was decorated by the Queen of England with a Coronation Medal,
by
The Catholicos Khoren of Cilicia with the Order of Knighthood of Cilicia
and
was honoured by the Government of Cyprus for his multidimensional
contribution to the cultural life of Cyprus. He was known as “The father
of
Music of Cyprus”.
The book – that has been written by former Melkonian Principal
Antranik
Dakessian – will be available in Cyprus soon.
The Melkonian Alumni and the Oshakan Cyprus Chapter of the
Hamazkayin
Cultural and Educational Association are co-organising a Book-Launch and
a
cultural evening dedicated to Vahan Bedelian in spring.
; Follow Gibrahayer e-magazine and the Cyprus Armenian printed
media on
how to obtain your own copy, which parallel to Vahan Bedelian’s
biography is
also a testimony on the history and evolution of the Armenian community
of
Cyprus.
The book includes interesting and rare documents and photographs.

RECOMMENDED SITE

Turkish Parliamentarians are preparing to formally challenge the
authenticity of the 1916 British Parliamentary Blue Book on the Armenian
Genocide, the Gomidas Institute (UK) reported on Tuesday. As part of
their
formal challenge, they intend to send a delegation to make
representations
to the Houses of Parliament.

You are invited to read
The website of the Armenians in the Middle East.

California Court case Postponed
Today was due to be the date of the Court hearing in the case brought
about
by the Istanbul Patriarch against the AGBU, has at the last minute been
postponed, without any explanation.
The California Alumni & Friends website, simply states
The AGBU Hearing March 15th, at 9:15AM
Court date postponed. New date will be announced as soon as it is final.
As informative as ever
* Has there been some sort of behind the scenes deal?
* Have they (the AGBU) seen the error of their ways and given up?
* Has the court postponed it due to lack of time or on legal grounds?

Considering the overall secrecy of this whole case, anything co uld have
happened.
I suppose time will tell, let’s wait and see……

more from the savemelkonian.org website
Main Page
– Students handing over the cheque for tsunami relief to Mrs.
Panayiotou,
the Director of UNICEF in Cyprus
Diary section
– One court case postponed another couple on their way?
– Church, Ramgavars and the AGBU
– AGBU discontinues Hayatsk

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TATIANA’S CORNER
This corner is reserved for local artist Tatiana Ferahian’s comic strips
which are amalgamations of Armenian-Cypriot social commentaries, painted
with her usual wry and ironic humour, to stimulate and encourage
awareness
and interest toward our community’s everyday happenings.

NEWS IN BRIEF
* A drunk Jewish man assaulted two Armenian priests near the Church of
the
Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem’s Old City on Easter Sunday night.
* Writer Orhan Pamuk’s books along with flags of the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers’ Party were burned during a flag display demonstration on Sunday
in
Bilecik, 313 kilometers west of Ankara.
* A car belonging to the chief of the Armenian customs Armen Avetisian,
was
rocked by an explosion early on Thursday in what law-enforcement
authorities
see as a botched attempt on the influential official’s life. No
casualties
were reported.
* TURKEY has enlisted the help of a United States historian Justin
McCarthy,
as part of its campaign to counter Armenian efforts for world-wide
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
* With the initiative of ARF Dashnaktsoutiun Nikol Aghpalian student
Association about 30 youth and student organizations of Armenia sent a
letter on Thursday to the organisers of the concert featuring Russian
singer
Philip Kirkorov demanding that they cancel it, as they claim, he had has
cursed an Armenian journalist and had spoken of her origin in a
derogative
way.
* Electricity supply to 19 villages of Vayots Dzor region cut due to
heavy
snowfall has been restored.
* Kilikia” sailing boat, that visited Cyprus last summer presently
stationed
in Venice St.Lazzaro Island, will start its second four-month sailing on
May
9, 2005.
* Armenia moved above Andorra at the bottom of the group with a 2-1 win
in
Yerevan in the qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Cyprus take
on
Switzerland tonight.
* California youth will embark on a 215-mile 19-day walk to raise
awareness
about the unpunished crime of genocide committed against the Armenian
people
between 1915 and 1921.

MEET THE YOUNG SKI CHAMP
Meet Yannos Kouyoumdjian. He is eight years old, a student of
Nareg
Armenian elementary school and he is already familiar with concepts
like
practice schedules, giving 150% and being a champion.
You can all be sure that we will hear from this young man, often.
We
certainly will write about him and share his achievements with our
readers.
Yannos recently won a Pancyprian under 12 Ski Championship that
took
place in Troodos North Face Slope. In the giant slalom category he came
first among 30 participants, most of whom were older than him.
Yannos is a true champion. If the snow falls short on the Cyprus
mountains, he probably would do just as well in either soccer or tennis.
I
certainly hope he choses the latter.

g i b r a h a y c a l e n d a r

* The committee of the Armenian Club of Larnaca invites you to a Lecture
on
Saturday 2nd April at 5:00 pm at the Nareg Armenian School in Larnaca.
Interpretation of ROBIN SHARMA’S “THE MONK WHO SOLD HIS FERRARI” By
Avedis
Avedissian (lecture in Armenian). Tea and cakes after the lecture.

* MUSICAL LUNCH – Sunday 3rd April 1:00 pm – Larnaca Armenian Club. Live
Armenian Mu sic – Delicious Food and All Inclusive Drinks Participation:
7
CYP & 3 CYP for children. Sign Up:Mihran Boyadjian 24655139 99372274 –
Vart
Karageulian 24659245 Armenian Cultural Event ` Dance & Poetry April 8 ,
2005
at 7:30 pm, MEI Auditorium. Organised by the AGBU ` Melkonian
Educational
Institute with the participation of Melkonian Students. Organised by
Areta
Keshishian. Dance Instructor: Ashot Ordinian

* The “Sipan” Dance Group of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational
Association
of Cyprus will be presenting the Musical Performance of Toumanyian
“Famous
Children’s Stories” on Sunday April 10, 2005 at 7:30 pm at PASIDY
Auditorium.

* Homenetmen London Presents: In commemoration of the 90th anniversary
of
the Armenian Genocide, a lecture: REMEMBER OUR PAST, EDUCATE OUR
FUTURE-The
Armenian Genocide by Public International Lawyer Dr Harry Hagopian.
Date:
16th April 2005. Place: Acton High School, Gunnersbury Lane, Acton W3
8EY
Time: 15:30pm for 16:00pm sharp start. For further information contact:
Armineh Gasparian at 07775 504 569 or by e-mail on
[email protected]

* Armenian Cypriot artist Nanor Tashdjian will be exhibiting her works
in
Cardiff, Wales. from April 12 – April 21, 2005 at the Temple of Peace,
Cathays Park.(Tel 02920 228549) The exhibition, entitled “The Battle
Field”
is partly a reflection by Nanor on her background. She was born during
the
Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and identifies strongly with her
grandparents,
orphaned during the genocide. The exhibition will be held in the foyer
of
the entrance to the Temple of Peace, from April 12 -21 from 9.00 a.m.
till
5.00p.m.(not the weekend). The exhibition will culminate in a
Commemorative
meeting at The Temple of Peace (up stairs Council Committee room) at
7.00
p.m. on Wednesday, 20th April.This will be the fifth Welsh National
Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, organised by Wales-Armenia
Solidarity , in co-operation with CRAG, London. Taking part will
Caerphilly
Labour Councillor and Human Rights campaigner Ray Davies and other
politicians and the well-known poet Mike Jenkins of Merthyr. He will
read
his poem “Komitas”. Another Welsh poet Chris Williams will read hos poem
“Horseshoes” inspired by the reading of “The Burning Tigris” All the
major
Christian Churches will be represented. This meeting will emphasise once
again that the Welsh Political, Cultural and Religious establishment has
no
sympathy with the British Government denial of the genocide..

* Pancyprian Commemoration of APRIL 24 9OTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE. Saturday April 23, 2005 – Picture Exhibition at Eleftheria
Square
from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. At 7:00 pm March on Armenia street leading up to
the
Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church where a Memorial Service will be held. Keynote
speaker Dr.Antranik Ashdjian.
April 24, 2005. Holy Mass at Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church followed by
Memorial
Service at The Genocide Monument. More details in next week’s issue of
Gibrahayer e-magazine.

* The “Timag” Theatre Company of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational
Association “Oshakan” Cyprus Chapter is getting ready for its annual
performance which will take place on Sunday May 8, 2005 at 8:30 pm (note
the
new date) at PASIDY. This year’s performance will be Yervant Odian’s
“Ser ou
Dzidzagh”.

* Armenian musical duo of Jean Davidian and Marie Louise Kouyoumdjian
perform at the Palm Beach Hotel in Larnaca twice a week starting from
April
2005.

* Commemoration of The Armenian Genocide ` 90th Anniversary April 20,
2005
at 7:30 pm, MEI Auditorium. Organised by the AGBU ` Melkonian
Educational
Institute with the participation of Melkonian Students.

* Gathering on the occasion of the visit of the Chairperson of the
Central
Executive of the Armenian Relief Society (HOM), organised by the Cyprus
“Sosse” Chapter, on Wednesday 4 May, 2005.

* Lecture by Peter Balakian on Friday May 20, 2005 organised by The
Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association Cyprus “Oshakan”
Chapter.

* Cyprus Dart Championships. AYMA/HMEM is participating in the Cyprus
Dart
League with home matches being played every other Thursday at AYMA.

* AYF Badanegan Mioutian get-togethers take place on Saturday at 3:30 pm
at
AYMA. Contact Vartoog Karageulian on 24-659245.

* Practices of the “Sipan” Dance Group of Hamazkayin Cultural and
Educational Association of Cyprus for the Musical Performance of
Toumanyian
“Famous Children’s Stories” take place as follows: Every Friday and
Sunday
at 5:30 pm and every Saturday at 4:30 pm

* AYMA/HMEM Chicco Football practices take place every Friday from 7:00
–
8:30 pm for children starting from the age of 7. Contact Krikor
Mahdessian
on 99650897.

* AYMA/HMEM Table Tennis practices take place every Saturday from 5:30
pm
under the guidance of ex-Cyprus Champion Sirvart Costanian. Classes for
all
ages.

* AYF meetings every Wednesday at 9:00 pm at AYMA.

* AYMA/HMEM Football team practices take place every Thursday at 7:30
pm.

* For more details of the next Bible Study Class organised by the
Armenian
Prelature at the Vahram Utudjian Hall of The Armenian Prelature call
Father
Momik Habeshian direct on 99 307966 or at the Prelature Office on 22
493560
email [email protected]

* Armenian Radio Hour on The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation via real
audio
on . Broadcast 17:00-18:00 local Cyprus time
(14:00-15:00
GMT)

* The Armenian Prelature announces that the next permits for the
Armenian
Cemetery visitations at Ayios Dhometios on the Green line, are on Sunday
April 3 and 17, 2005.

* Every Wednesday from 7-8 pm (Cyprus time + 2 GMT) on CyBC’s Trito,
Puzant
Nadjarian presents the “History of the Blue”. Internet edition on

Cooley Steps Aside for Poochigian vs. Brown

3/31/2005
Leon Worden Opinion and Multimedia Editor

He wouldn’t commit, but the last time I talked to him about it in
December, District Attorney Steve Cooley was pretty sure he’d enter
the racefor California attorney general in 2006. He was intent on
stopping former Gov.Jerry Brown from replacing the retiring Bill
Lockyer.

Cooley has had three more months to think about it. On Wednesday he
announced that he won’t short-circuit his current D.A. term (it
expires in 2008) to run for attorney general.

`I always wanted to be a deputy district attorney, and then the
district attorney,’ Cooley said Wednesday when I asked him if he
wouldnâ=80=99t really rather be the state’s top cop.

`(District attorney is) a great job with a great mission, and I think
it’s working very well.’

Voters of Los Angeles County seem to think so; they elected him
D.A. in 2000 and re-upped his tenure last year.

But don’t expect him to roll over and let Brown eclipse him in
California’s prosecutorial hierarchy without a fight.

`I’ll do my best to make sure Jerry Brown is not the next attorney
general,’ Cooley said.

Cooley isn’t endorsing this early in the game, but he said heâ=80=99ll
do so `at the appropriate time.’

With Brown, Sen. Joe Dunn and L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo
duking it out on the Democratic side, there’s really only one person
for Republican Cooley to support – Chuck Poochigian, a two-term
Republican state senator from Fresno.

`He’s an excellent guy,’ Cooley said.

I don’t know Poochigian, but he’s vice chair of the SenatePublic
Safety Committee, which puts him about as close as a Republican
legislator can get to law enforcement issues.

Whether Poochigian’s name will be a hurdle for the voters remains to
be seen. An awkward name wasn’t a problem for Poochigian’s former boss
– ex-Gov.

George Deukmejian.

Brown’s got the opposite problem; his name could prove to be too well
known.

It’ll be his task to convince voters that their perception of
yesteryear is out of kilter with today’s older and wiser Jerry Brown.

In November I interviewed a very different Jerry Brown from the one I
remember from the 1970s. Sure, the quirkiness was there, but this was
the tough-on-crime Jerry Brown; the Jerry Brown who takes credit for a
30-percent drop in crime in Oakland since he became mayor in 1999.

Of course, Brown would tell you that’s nothing new. As governor from
1974-82, he reminded me, he signed then-Sen. Deukmejian’s `use a gun,
go to prison’ law; introduced mandatory sentences; and increased by 50
percent the number of felons who got hard time instead of probation.

Still, Brown will have to win the Democratic nomination first. Party
support might not come too easy. Although he chaired the state party
from 1989-91, he resigned in a huff over what he calls his `disgust
with the growing influence of money in politics.’

Inner-party rivalries die hard, and Dunn, a two-term Democratic
senator from Garden Grove in conservative Orange County, could prove
to be the one to watch in the primary.

With Cooley bowing out, there won’t be much to watch on the Republican
side.

As a sitting lawmaker, Poochigian should have little trouble
out-fund-raising his only official GOP rival so far – Rod Pacheco,an
ex-assemblyman and current assistant district attorney in Riverside
County.

Cooley would have done a respectable job for the state of
California. But we Angelenos can take comfort in knowing Cooley will
head the county’s legal team for three more years. Cooley restored
dignity and professionalism to the office of county district attorney
at a time when the office needed it most – and it’s a job he genuinely
likes.

Leon Worden is The Signal’s opinion and multimedia editor. His column
represents his own views, and not necessarily those of The Signal.

Demonstrators in Georgia rally against Russian military’s withdrawal

.c The Associated Press

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) – Hundreds of demonstrators rallied in Georgian
cities Thursday to protest the withdrawal of Russian military bases
which the government wants closed.

During a protest in the southern city of Akhalkalaki, some 700 people
urged President Mikhail Saakashvili’s government to reconsider its
push for a quick pullout of the Russian base there, saying that its
closure would leave most local residents without jobs.

Saakashvili has promised to create other jobs, but protesters on
Thursday urged the government to do that before the base’s removal.

About 200 protesters gathered in the Black Sea port of Batumi, where
the second Russian base is located. They also protested the pullout,
and urged the government to improve relations with Moscow.

Georgia and Russia have been sparring over the timetable for
withdrawal. The small former Soviet republic wants the troops out
within two years, while Moscow insists it needs at least four years to
complete the job.

03/31/05 08:30 EST

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Oil transportation via Baku-Ceyhan pipeline too expensive for Kazakhstan
RBC, 31.03.2005, Astana 18:10:02.

Kazakhstan is dissatisfied with the current tariffs on oil transportation
via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Kazakhstani President Nursultan
Nazarbayev has said at a news conference after a meeting with Georgian
President Mikhail Saakashvili. “So far, we are dissatisfied with the tariffs
that have been offered to us, as it would be unprofitable for oil companies
to transport oil, if the tariffs were so high,” the President said. He added
that an Azerbaijani delegation would visit Kazakhstan in April to continue
talks on Kazakhstan joining the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project.

At the same time Nazarbayev noted that the transportation of
Kazakhstani oil via the Caucasus and Georgia to the Black Sea could become
the first large joint project for Kazakhstan and Georgia. However, an
agreement with Azerbaijan should be reached in connection with this.
Additionally, Kazakhstan would like to receive some preferences from
Georgia, relating to the transit of Kazakhstan’s goods via that country,
Nazarbayev remarked.

Armenian president offers condolences over Pope’s death

Mediamax news agency
3 Apr 05

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan sent a telegram of condolence to
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano on the death of Pope
John Paul II today, the presidential spokesman, Viktor Sogomonyan, has
told Mediamax.

The telegram said: “The Armenian people, along with the entire
Christian world grieve over the death of Pope John Paul II, who was
greatly respected and loved by the entire humanity.”

“The blessed memory of John Paul II will always remain in our
hearts. We will never forget the Pontiff’s blessings, great respect
and cordiality towards our people which we saw during the historic
visit of John Paul II to Armenia and our last meeting at the Vatican
in January this year,” the telegram of the Armenian president said.

[Passage omitted: minor details]

Russian religious, political leaders praise pope, avoid dispute that
blocked him from visiting

AP Worldstream
Apr 03, 2005

JIM HEINTZ

The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, whose resentment of Roman
Catholics’ expanding activities blocked Pope John Paul II from making
a visit here he longed for, hailed the late pontiff Sunday and said
the two churches were joined in grieving.

Other Russians offering condolences and praise of the pope included
President Vladimir Putin, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, whose intense books about the Soviet
labor-camp system won him the Nobel Prize.

None of them mentioned the dispute that kept John Paul from visiting
Russia _ a journey they pope had repeatedly expressed intense desire
for. The Russian Orthodox Church complains that Roman Catholics are
poaching for converts among people who would have been Orthodox had
not the officially atheist Soviet Union obstructed religious
activities.

Although state-controlled television channels on Sunday led their
newscasts with the pope’s death, including live reports from
St. Peter’s Square, they made no mention of Russia’s Catholics,
estimated to number about 600,000. Hundreds of people gathered Sunday
at Moscow’s Catholic Immaculate Conception cathedral to mourn the
pope.

“We pray with thanks for a man who did so many good things for Russia
and the whole world,” said Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz.

Russian Orthodox church head Patriarch Alexy II praised the pope’s
“strong will for Christian service and witness.”

“Together with you we grieve over the loss that has befallen the Roman
Catholic Church,” he said in a letter to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger,
dean of the College of Cardinals.

Although the letter did not mention the Moscow-Vatican dispute, Alexy
said that “the upcoming new period in the life of the Roman Catholic
Church will, hopefully, help renew the relations of mutual respect and
fraternal Christian love between our churches.”

Putin issued a statement saying he had “very warm recollections of
meetings with the Pope.” He met with John Paul at the Vatican in 2003
and had indicated he favored a papal visit but would not pressure the
Russian Orthodox Church to drop its objection.

The closest John Paul ever came to visiting Russia was a televised
prayer service beamed to Moscow’s Roman Catholic cathedral from the
Vatican. Even that annoyed the Russian Orthodox Church, which many
Russians consider inseparable from their national identity.

John Paul, the first Slavic pope, saw a visit to Russia as a chance to
promote greater Christian unity, a millennium after the Great Schism
divided Christianity between eastern and western branches. He visited
several ex-Soviet republics including Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia and
Ukraine, but couldn’t melt the Moscow Patriarchate’s resistance.

Relations between the churches turned especially icy in 2002 after the
Vatican elevated its presence in Russia by establishing four
full-fledged dioceses headed by an archbishop.

John Paul work “aimed at establishing more fair international
relations, building a society based on humanism and solidarity and
strengthening moral principles … (and) gained him the respect of
hundreds of millions of people of various religions and
nationalities,” Putin said.

That assessment was echoed by Gorbachev, who was Soviet leader when
European Communist regimes began falling, a process in which the
Polish-born pontiff was a significant inspiration.

“John Paul II called on all people to cherish freedom and to respect
human rights and to move toward a social set-up that would offer
decent living conditions to all,” Gorbachev said, according to the
Interfax news agency.

“Pope John Paul II was a great man. In the centuries-long line of
Roman popes, he stands out markedly. He influenced the course of world
history. And, on his tireless pastoral visits across the world, he
carried the warmth of Christianity to all,” Solzhenitsyn said in a
statement.

ISTANBUL (Lraper Church Bulletin – 03/04/2005) – His Beatitude Mesrob
II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul & All Turkey, addressed a letter of
condolences to His Eminence Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo,
Camerlengo of the Holy See of Rome.

The following is the Patriarch’s letter:

“It is with profoundly deep sentiments of sympathy that I write to you
these humble words of cordial condolences, on the passing of His
Holiness Pope John Paul II, the Holy Father, the `Papa’ of countless
numbers of Christians all over the globe, Roman Catholic or not.

It is impossible for me, as a person, and as a junior brother of his
in the episcopate, to forget the many encounters with him and the
opportunities we had to pray together. His visit to Turkey, and the
Armenian Patriarchal See of Istanbul, in November 1979, will never be
forgotten by our faithful.

The Holy Father leaves a grand legacy of selfless faith in God, of
effective witness to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, of
peace-making amongst nations, of dialogue and reconciliation between
Christian denominations and other religions, of upholding morality and
justice for all peoples in this age and time.

We, in the Armenian Church, feel very close at this time of Paschal
mystery to our brother bishops in the Roman Catholic Church and to all
Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in the world, at the passing of
this great Christian Pastor.

This morning, on the Second Sunday of the Quinquagesima, I presided
over the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Mother-of-God Patriarchal Church
here in Kumkapý, Istanbul, to pray for the repose of the soul of
Pope John Paul II – a beloved and loyal friend of the Armenian Church
and people.

May he rest in peace.
In the Risen Lord,
MESROB II
Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul & All Turkey”

Patriarch Mesrob sent letters likewise to Their Eminences Cardinal
Angelo Sodano (former Secretary of State of the Holy See of Rome),
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (former Prefect of Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith), Cardinal Walter Kasper (former Prefect of the
Pontifical Council for Christian Unity) and His Excellency Archbishop
Edmund Farhad, Nuncio of the Holy See in Ankara.

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LRAPER Church Bulletin 03/04/2005
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
Licensee: The Revd. Fr. Drtad Uzunyan
Editors: The Revd.Dr.Krikor Damatyan,
Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan
Press Spokesperson: Attorney Luiz Bakar
T: +90 (212) 517-0970
F: +90 (533) 942-7019
E-mail: [email protected]
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